September 10, 2014
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Anne LeZotte, Communications Manager for Pilot Flying J
Office: 865-474-3028
Email: [email protected]
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 10, 2014) – In celebration of HGTV’s 20th anniversary, the Bagwell Family, Pilot Flying J and RIVR Media are donating a pavilion at Lakeshore Park that will be named the HGTV Pavilion.
“In the last 20 years Scripps Networks Interactive made Knoxville the cable network center of the South,” said Ross K. Bagwell, founder of Bagwell Entertainment. “Best of all, the employees have helped make Knoxville one of the best places to live in the South. This pavilion will honor them all.”
The new pavilion, still in the design stage, will be situated at the center of the new 15-acre central recreation area between the upper and lower baseball fields, giving visitors a spectacular view of Fort Loudoun Lake and the mountains in the distance.
“This is a wonderful and fitting gift,” Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said. “The pavilion will honor one of our signature local companies and also showcase the long-running commitment to the Knoxville community by the Haslam and Bagwell families. It is the next major step toward bringing our Lakeshore Park master plan to life.”
“Pilot Flying J is honored to celebrate HGTV and this outstanding milestone,” said Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J. “Twenty years is quite an accomplishment and one that Scripps Networks Interactive should be very proud to have reached. We are excited to be a part of the celebration and wish HGTV many more years of success.”
Construction of the HGTV Pavilion is scheduled to begin this fall. The 185-acre park is owned by the City of Knoxville and managed by Lakeshore Park, a nonprofit corporation that will raise funds for development in accordance with the master plan approved by the city. The gift from the Bagwell Family, Pilot Flying J and RIVR Media is one of the first contributions to the capital campaign for development and expansion of the park.
About Pilot Flying J
Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, is committed to making life better for professional drivers. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot Flying J has more than 650 retail locations. The Pilot Flying J network provides drivers with access to more than 65,000 parking spaces for trucks, 4,400 showers and more than 4,400 diesel lanes offering DEF at the pump. Pilot Flying J subsidiary Pilot Logistics Services is one of the fastest growing independent energy logistics companies in North America. Together, Pilot Flying J and Pilot Logistic Services employ more than 24,000 people. Pilot Flying J is currently ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. Visit www.pilotflyingj.com for more information.
Maria Cornelius
